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Course AS-039

Critical Thinking and Problem Solving for Administrative Professionals

Administrative professionals solve problems all day long: conflicting diary requests, missing information, unclear instr... The outline covers Foundations of Critical Thinking, Defining and Analysing Problems, Generating...

  • 5 daysClassroom or online
  • 49Upcoming dates
  • 12Cities
  • €1,825Fees from

Choose your format and date

  • 5 days
  • 09:00–14:00
  • Certificate of attendance

Classroom sessions

  1. 7–11 Dec 2026

    London

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  2. 14–18 Dec 2026

    Barcelona

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  3. 21–25 Dec 2026

    Frankfurt

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  4. 4–8 Jan 2027

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  5. 11–15 Jan 2027

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  6. 18–22 Jan 2027

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  7. 25–29 Jan 2027

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  8. 1–5 Feb 2027

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  9. 8–12 Feb 2027

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  10. 15–19 Feb 2027

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  11. 22–26 Feb 2027

    Amsterdam

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  12. 1–5 Mar 2027

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  13. 8–12 Mar 2027

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  14. 15–19 Mar 2027

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  15. 22–26 Mar 2027

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  16. 5–9 Apr 2027

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  17. 12–16 Apr 2027

    Dubai

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  18. 19–23 Apr 2027

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  19. 26–30 Apr 2027

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  20. 3–7 May 2027

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  21. 10–14 May 2027

    Frankfurt

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  22. 17–21 May 2027

    Geneva

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  23. 24–28 May 2027

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  24. 7–11 Jun 2027

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  25. 14–18 Jun 2027

    Barcelona

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  26. 21–25 Jun 2027

    Frankfurt

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  27. 5–9 Jul 2027

    Kuala Lumpur

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  28. 12–16 Jul 2027

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  29. 19–23 Jul 2027

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  30. 26–30 Jul 2027

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  31. 2–6 Aug 2027

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  32. 9–13 Aug 2027

    Madrid

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  33. 16–20 Aug 2027

    London

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  34. 23–27 Aug 2027

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  35. 6–10 Sep 2027

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  36. 13–17 Sep 2027

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  37. 20–24 Sep 2027

    Frankfurt

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  38. 4–8 Oct 2027

    London

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  39. 11–15 Oct 2027

    Barcelona

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  40. 18–22 Oct 2027

    Frankfurt

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  41. 25–29 Oct 2027

    Paris

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  42. 1–5 Nov 2027

    Rome

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  43. 8–12 Nov 2027

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  44. 15–19 Nov 2027

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  45. 22–26 Nov 2027

    Frankfurt

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  46. 6–10 Dec 2027

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  47. 13–17 Dec 2027

    Vienna

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  48. 20–24 Dec 2027

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  49. 27–31 Dec 2027

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Online / Live sessions

  1. 7–11 Dec 2026

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  2. 14–18 Dec 2026

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  3. 21–25 Dec 2026

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  4. 4–8 Jan 2027

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  5. 11–15 Jan 2027

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  6. 18–22 Jan 2027

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  7. 25–29 Jan 2027

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  8. 1–5 Feb 2027

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  9. 8–12 Feb 2027

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  10. 15–19 Feb 2027

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  11. 22–26 Feb 2027

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  12. 1–5 Mar 2027

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  13. 8–12 Mar 2027

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  14. 15–19 Mar 2027

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  15. 22–26 Mar 2027

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  16. 5–9 Apr 2027

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  17. 12–16 Apr 2027

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  18. 19–23 Apr 2027

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  19. 26–30 Apr 2027

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  20. 3–7 May 2027

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  21. 10–14 May 2027

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  22. 17–21 May 2027

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  23. 24–28 May 2027

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  24. 7–11 Jun 2027

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  25. 14–18 Jun 2027

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  26. 21–25 Jun 2027

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  27. 5–9 Jul 2027

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  28. 12–16 Jul 2027

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  29. 19–23 Jul 2027

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  30. 26–30 Jul 2027

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  31. 2–6 Aug 2027

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  32. 9–13 Aug 2027

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  33. 16–20 Aug 2027

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  34. 23–27 Aug 2027

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  35. 6–10 Sep 2027

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  36. 13–17 Sep 2027

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  37. 20–24 Sep 2027

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  38. 4–8 Oct 2027

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  39. 11–15 Oct 2027

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  40. 18–22 Oct 2027

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  41. 25–29 Oct 2027

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  42. 1–5 Nov 2027

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  43. 8–12 Nov 2027

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  44. 15–19 Nov 2027

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  45. 22–26 Nov 2027

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  46. 6–10 Dec 2027

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  47. 13–17 Dec 2027

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  48. 20–24 Dec 2027

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  49. 27–31 Dec 2027

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Introduction

Course overview

Administrative professionals solve problems all day long: conflicting diary requests, missing information, unclear instructions, process breakdowns and urgent issues that land without warning. The quality of their thinking directly affects how smoothly an office runs and how much managers can rely on them.

This Critical Thinking and Problem Solving for Administrative Professionals training course strengthens the way participants analyse situations, question information and reach sound decisions. It introduces practical techniques for defining problems clearly, finding root causes, generating options, weighing evidence and choosing the best course of action.

Participants also learn how to recognise common thinking traps, present recommendations confidently to managers and take ownership of problems rather than simply passing them on.

View full course outline

What you will achieve

Learning objectives

  • Describe the elements of critical thinking in an administrative role
  • Define problems clearly before attempting to solve them
  • Gather and evaluate information for accuracy, relevance and bias
  • Apply root cause techniques to recurring office problems
  • Generate and compare alternative solutions using simple criteria
  • Recognise common thinking errors and assumptions
  • Present well-reasoned recommendations to managers
  • Take initiative and follow through on solutions

Who should attend

Target audience

  • Executive, personal and administrative assistants
  • Office managers and office coordinators
  • Secretaries and administrative officers
  • Team assistants and project support staff
  • Front office and customer service administrators
  • Administrators preparing for more senior roles

Methodology

Learning approach

  • The course is highly interactive and built around realistic office scenarios. Participants practise each technique on case studies, puzzles and problems drawn from their own work, working in small groups and individually. Short reflection activities help them notice their own thinking habits and improve them.

Complete course outline

Five focused days of learning and application

The timings provided are estimates and may vary depending on the number of participants and the discussions taking place during the sessions. They are indicative only and do not constitute a binding commitment.

Day 1

Foundations of Critical Thinking

  1. What critical thinking means for administrative professionals
  2. The difference between reacting to problems and thinking them through
  3. Asking powerful questions to clarify requests and instructions
  4. Separating facts, opinions, assumptions and inferences
  5. Coffee break
  6. Separating facts, opinions, assumptions and inferences (continued)
  7. Evaluating sources of information for reliability and bias
  8. Common thinking traps: jumping to conclusions and confirmation bias
  9. Self-assessment of personal thinking and decision habits

Day 2

Defining and Analysing Problems

  1. Writing a clear problem statement that the team agrees on
  2. Distinguishing symptoms from underlying causes
  3. Using the five whys to uncover root causes
  4. Fishbone diagrams for recurring process problems
  5. Coffee break
  6. Fishbone diagrams for recurring process problems (continued)
  7. Collecting simple data to confirm what is really happening
  8. Breaking complex issues into manageable parts
  9. Case study: analysing a recurring office process failure

Day 3

Generating and Evaluating Options

  1. Brainstorming techniques that produce useful ideas quickly
  2. Looking at a problem from the viewpoint of different stakeholders
  3. Setting criteria for comparing possible solutions
  4. Simple decision matrices and pros and cons analysis
  5. Coffee break
  6. Simple decision matrices and pros and cons analysis (continued)
  7. Considering risks, costs and unintended consequences
  8. Knowing when to decide yourself and when to escalate
  9. Exercise: choosing the best solution for a scheduling conflict

Day 4

Decision Making Under Pressure

  1. Making sound decisions when time and information are limited
  2. Prioritising competing urgent requests from several managers
  3. Using judgement on confidentiality and sensitive matters
  4. Handling ambiguity and changing instructions calmly
  5. Coffee break
  6. Handling ambiguity and changing instructions calmly (continued)
  7. Learning from mistakes without blame or defensiveness
  8. Ethical reasoning in everyday administrative decisions
  9. Scenario practice: resolving a crisis in the executive office

Day 5

Presenting Solutions and Taking Ownership

  1. Structuring a recommendation: issue, options, proposal and next steps
  2. Writing concise problem-solving emails and briefing notes
  3. Presenting ideas confidently to managers and senior staff
  4. Responding constructively to questions and objections
  5. Coffee break
  6. Implementing solutions and checking that they work
  7. Building a reputation as a proactive problem solver
  8. Personal action plan for applying critical thinking at work

Ready to book?

Critical Thinking and Problem Solving for Administrative Professionals

Next session: 7 - 11 December 2026, London

Course FAQs

Questions about this course

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What does Critical Thinking and Problem Solving for Administrative Professionals (AS-039) cover?

This course covers Administration and Secretarial through a structured five-day outline focused on practical application, discussion, and implementation planning.

When is the next available session?

The next scheduled session starts on 7 - 11 December 2026. See the course schedules section for the available dates and delivery formats.

Who should attend this course?

Executive, personal and administrative assistants, Office managers and office coordinators, Secretaries and administrative officers

Is bilingual course delivery available?

Yes. All course materials and presentations are provided in English, while bilingual explanation and discussion support may be available depending on the selected location and trainer availability. For example, when attending a course in Istanbul, you may request a Turkish-speaking trainer to explain the English course content in Turkish. Arabic explanation support may also be requested at this location. Other languages are available in selected cities. You can choose your preferred language support as an optional preference during registration.

How can I register for a session?

Use any Register button next to the available course dates to open the participant registration page and submit your booking request for the selected session.

Is this course available online as well as classroom-based?

Check the course schedules section for currently published classroom and Online / Live sessions.

Where are classroom sessions delivered?

Current classroom venues include London, Barcelona, Frankfurt, Vienna, Amsterdam, Cape Town, Dubai, Geneva, Kuala lumpur, Madrid, Paris, Rome.

How long is the training programme?

The programme runs for five days from 09:00 to 14:00, which gives 25 contact hours, including a daily 30-minute break (22.5 hours of instruction).